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1272313

registered interest
date	17/12/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Digital Technology: Disadvantaged
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to tackle the disproportionate effect of digital poverty on BAME communities in Luton.
tabling member constituency	Luton North
tabling member printed	Sarah Owen
uin	131487
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2021 answer text <p>In response to Covid-19, the Government and Ofcom agreed a set of commitments with the UK’s major broadband and mobile operators to support vulnerable consumers during the pandemic, including supporting those in debt, and providing new and generous landline and mobile offers, such as free or low cost mobile data boosts.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Furthemore, there are currently social tariffs in place that provide low cost landline and broadband services for those on means-tested state benefits, including BT Basic and KCOM’s flex packages. In addition, in November 2020, Virgin Media launched a new low-cost broadband service for its customers in receipt of Universal Credit.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Public libraries are also a vital component in tackling digital exclusion. During 2019/20, Luton’s six static libraries had 96 electronic workstations available with internet access, providing 246,610 hours of available use of the People’s Network and with 67,235 hours recorded use of People’s Network.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>As part of over £300 million invested to support access to remote education and online social care, over one million laptops and tablets have been secured for disadvantaged children and young people. This figure includes 500,000 that have already been delivered since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has also introduced new essential digital skills qualifications (EDSQs) based on <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-standards-for-essential-digital-skills" target="_blank">new national standards for essential digital skills.</a> Adults with no or low digital skills can study essential digital skills qualifications for free.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 11/01/2021 12:40:41 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4777 label Biography information for Sarah Owen

1271625

registered interest
date	16/12/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Internet: Safety
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department will take on additional staff as part of the expansion of Ofcom's remit to monitor and enforce online safety.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	130724
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2021 answer text <p>My department has a team working on online harms, whose responsibilities include policy development, management of the upcoming legislation and management of the relationship with Ofcom as the designated regulator. I will ensure that the team has the resources it needs to do its job within the department’s funding allocation from the recent Spending Review.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 11/01/2021 11:05:06 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1271682

registered interest
date	16/12/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Facebook: Data Protection
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment he has made of the effect on individual’s data privacy of Facebook moving UK users on to US privacy agreements in 2021; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Pontypridd
tabling member printed	Alex Davies-Jones
uin	130874
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2021 answer text <p>On 15th December, Facebook publicly announced that from next year Facebook Inc in the US rather than Facebook Ireland will be the service provider responsible for UK users’ personal data.</p><p>At the end of the Transition Period, any online service provider dealing with UK users' personal data will still be subject to the UK Data Protection Act 2018 and UK General Data Protection Regulation. The legislation will, therefore, continue to apply to Facebook's treatment of personal data of UK users when those users are served from the US.</p><p>The UK is committed to high data protection standards and we are confident that the UK’s data protection laws provide appropriate protection for UK users.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Mr John Whittingdale question first answered 11/01/2021 15:24:53 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
tabling member	4849 label Biography information for Alex Davies-Jones

1271710

registered interest
date	16/12/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Gambling: Internet
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on trends in the level of participation in online gambling; and what recent steps his Department has taken to help reduce gambling related harm.
tabling member constituency	Coventry North East
tabling member printed	Colleen Fletcher
uin	130748
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2021 answer text <p>Since March, the Gambling Commission has collected and published monthly data from operators alongside regular consumer survey data to understand the impact of covid restrictions on gambling behaviours. Data from online operators representing about 80% of the market showed a significant fall in overall online gambling participation during the early months of the pandemic, with 25% fewer active players across all types of online gambling combined in May 2020 than there had been in March 2020. Participation increased again as restrictions were eased. In October 2020 there were 3% fewer active players across all types of online gambling combined than March 2020 (note that players may be active in more than one type of gambling).</p><p>Consumer survey data has also shown that the majority of people spent less or the same on gambling during Covid-19 as they did previously, and people were more likely to report that they had stopped gambling than started for the first time. The latest figures from the Gambling Commission are available at: <a href="https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news-action-and-statistics/News/data-shows-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-gambling-behaviour-in-october-2020" target="_blank">https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news-action-and-statistics/News/data-shows-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-gambling-behaviour-in-october-2020</a></p><p>The government has worked closely with the Gambling Commision to take steps to reduce gambling related harm. In April, we banned gambling on credit cards and mandated integration with GAMSTOP (the national online self exclusion scheme). The Commission also directed £8.8 million to GambleAware to ensure its treatment services could continue uninterrupted. In May, tough new rules were introduced for online operators, in response to the potential for pandemic restrictions to increase the risk of gambling harm. New rules on VIP schemes came into force in October, and the Commission will respond to a consultation on new rules for online slots game design early next year.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston question first answered 11/01/2021 13:49:36 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
tabling member	4378 label Biography information for Colleen Fletcher

1271715

registered interest
date	16/12/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Broadband
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the average amount paid annually by households in (a) Coventry North East constituency, (b) Coventry, (c) the West Midlands and (d) England for broadband connectivity for each year since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Coventry North East
tabling member printed	Colleen Fletcher
uin	130750
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2021 answer text <p>Ofcom’s <a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/research-and-data/multi-sector-research/cmr/cmr-2020" target="_blank">2020 Communications Market Report</a> sets out UK average monthly spend on fixed voice and data services. These costs include VAT and are adjusted for inflation at 2019 prices.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Average fixed voice and data cost (£)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>38.38</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>37.19</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>37.36</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>37.38</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>38.23</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>39.84</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>42.01</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>42.59</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>39.59</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019</p></td><td><p>37.25</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Ofcom data does not provide regional breakdowns.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 11/01/2021 14:45:20 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4378 label Biography information for Colleen Fletcher

1271850

registered interest
date	16/12/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Ofcom: Security
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether Ofcom staff working on functions required by the Telecoms Security Bill will require security clearance.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	130734
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2021 answer text <p>As the regulator for telecoms security, Ofcom already has staff with the relevant security clearances.</p><p>Ofcom’s expanding role in the strengthened security framework will require it to increase levels of resources and skills to meet its new responsibilities. This will include seconding technical expertise to further develop Ofcom’s capability.</p><p>The National Cyber Security Centre will also provide expert advice to Ofcom in support of Ofcom’s role in the new regime.</p><p>Ofcom will keep these needs under review to ensure that there are sufficient security cleared staff at all times.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 11/01/2021 14:49:25 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1271856

registered interest
date	16/12/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Theatres: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing theatres to open in socially distanced conditions in tier 3 areas.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield South East
tabling member printed	Mr Clive Betts
uin	130633
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2021 answer text <p>The Government fully recognises the disruptive impact that Coronavirus and restrictions has on the performing arts and particularly for theatres which have had to close to public performance. The Government continues to work with all its sectors to assess the impact of the tiers and to develop proposals for how venues can reopen when it is safe to do so.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise the impact that closures across the country will have on our vital cultural sector and remain committed to supporting it as it suffers the impact of this virus. The remaining £400m of Culture Recovery Fund grants and loans announced on Friday 11th December will support significant cultural organisations who now face financial distress as a result of closure, as well as helping them transition back to fuller opening in the spring.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>More than 440 theatres across the country have received more than £183 million from the Culture Recovery Fund, which is nearly 30% of the funding awarded by Arts Council England so far.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 11/01/2021 11:16:18 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	394 label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts

1271870

registered interest
date	16/12/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Huawei: Telecommunications
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December 2020 to Question 124751, when he plans to publish details on the removal of Huawei equipment from the fixed network.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	130735
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2021 answer text <p>The Government is reaching the end of a technical consultation with operators to understand their supply chain alternatives to Huawei in full fibre networks.</p><p>The consultation is not considering the removal and replacement of Huawei in full fibre networks.</p><p>Information gathered as part of the consultation is commercially sensitive.</p><p>The Secretary of State will announce the outcome in due course.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman grouped question UIN 130736 question first answered 11/01/2021 14:48:12 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1271263

registered interest
date	15/12/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Digital Technology: Disadvantaged
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to tackle digital exclusion in Coventry North East constituency.
tabling member constituency	Coventry North East
tabling member printed	Colleen Fletcher
uin	130098
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2021 answer text <p>In order to address regional digital skills gaps, my department is supporting a Local Digital Skills Partnerships in the West Midlands Combined Authority areas, which brings together cross-sector regional and national partners to work collaboratively to upskill the current workforce, advance digital inclusion, and build thriving regional economies.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Public libraries are also a vital component in tackling digital exclusion. A priority of Coventry Libraries is to create improved access to digital services and increase the digital literacy skills of local residents. During 2019 to 2020 Coventry Libraries in the North East of the City have provided over 70,000 hours and over 100,000 sessions of access to public computers and Wi-Fi services. While reduced service has been provided during 2020, due to COVID 19, they are continuing with plans to increase access to public PCs, install new computers at both Bell Green and Foleshill Libraries and reintroduce computer help sessions, job clubs and benefits, debt and housing advice sessions.</p><p><strong><br></strong>The Government has also introduced new essential digital skills qualifications (EDSQs) based on <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-standards-for-essential-digital-skills" target="_blank">new national standards for essential digital skills.</a> Adults with no or low digital skills can study essential digital skills qualifications for free.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 11/01/2021 11:28:15 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4378 label Biography information for Colleen Fletcher

1271335

registered interest
date	15/12/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Film: Internet
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of streaming services’ content labelling provisions; and whether he has plans in place to ensure that platforms adopt ratings by the British Board of Film Classification.
tabling member constituency	West Lancashire
tabling member printed	Rosie Cooper
uin	130005
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2021 answer text <p>As the designated body for age classification of film content, the government has great trust in the British Board of Film Classification’s best practice age ratings.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>While adoption of the BBFC’s age ratings by online platforms is currently voluntary, we welcome their usage by Video on Demand platforms. This includes Netflix, who on December 1st announced that they have become the first platform to achieve complete coverage of their content under the BBFC’s ratings.</p><p><strong><br></strong>According to recent BBFC research, nearly nine in ten parents find BBFC age ratings on Netflix useful in helping them to choose content well for their family. To build on this success, we will continue to engage with industry to encourage other platforms to adopt the BBFC’s ratings, and will keep the evidence for legislation in this area under review.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 11/01/2021 10:53:13 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	1538 label Biography information for Rosie Cooper